SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NANOSCOPICALLY ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES

摘要

The present invention relates to methods and systems to allow in situ alignment of the tubes within the growth chamber. In particular, processes for in situ alignment include: (1) gas flow alignment using gas lenses introduced within the reaction tube, (2) electrostatic alignment using electrostatic lenses surrounding the reaction tube, (3) gas flow alignment by convergent flow within the reaction tube, (4) placing catalysts on a fixed substrate and flowing reaction gas parallel to the substrate. Other embodiments involve post processing of the CNT material in order to align the materials once it has been produced. In particular, processes for ex situ alignment include: (1 ) introducing a horizontal anchor within a standard sheet system and stretching that sheet with respect to a fixed drum and (2) adding chemicals to a sheet, tape or yam to help break electrostatic bonds and enable stretch alignment.